GoKawiil
Tech News
Apple's newest Mac mini, powered by the M6 chip, has been reviewed as a compact desktop that offers strong performance relative to its price. The review notes that while Apple is promoting the machine's AI capabilities, its core strength lies in general computing power rather than any specific AI-driven use case.
Apple's new M6 Mac mini keeps the same compact 5-by-5-inch design introduced in 2024 but adds faster networking and display support. The base model now includes 2.5Gb Ethernet as standard, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and improved multi-monitor output compared to the previous M4 version.
Apple has refreshed the Mac mini for the first time in nearly two years, keeping its compact design but adding an M6 chip and notable performance gains. The base price has jumped from $599 to $899, a hike attributed largely to rising component costs driven by AI-related demand.
Tom's Hardware reviewed Apple's new Mac Studio built around the M5 Ultra chip, which now serves as Apple's top desktop after the Mac Pro's discontinuation. The tested configuration, priced at $12,299 with 256GB of unified memory and 4TB storage, outperformed rivals like Nvidia's DGX Spark and AMD Threadripper systems when running AI models locally, while the base M5 Max model starts at $2,499.
Apple has refreshed the Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro chip options, replacing last year's M5 tier entirely. The M6 model starts at $899 with up to 32GB RAM, while the M5 Pro version scales up to 64GB RAM and significantly faster GPU bandwidth, positioning the lineup below the $2,499 Mac Studio.
Engadget's review found the Mac Studio M5 Ultra posts some of the highest CPU and GPU benchmark scores among desktop computers, with multi-core performance rivaling AMD's 64-core Threadripper Pro chips and disk speeds nearly double the previous M3 Ultra model. Real-world video editing tests showed dramatic gains too, cutting a 4K export task from over eight minutes to just over one minute compared to a MacBook M3 Pro.
Apple has updated the Mac Mini for the first time in nearly two years, introducing an M6 base model and an M5 Pro configuration that skips the M5 generation entirely for the standard chip. The base M6 Mini starts at $899, while a maxed-out M5 Pro version with 48GB of memory and 1TB storage reaches $2,899, edging into Mac Studio pricing territory.
Apple's latest Mac Mini refresh retains its familiar compact design, port layout, and the awkwardly placed rear power button, while introducing the new M6 chip built on a 2-nanometer process. The chip packs 46 billion transistors, roughly 35 percent denser than its predecessor, and the new model adds two extra CPU cores compared to the M4 version.
A Hacker News user says that after turning off Siri in System Settings, Screen Time, and applying community debloat scripts, a 'Siri AI.app' process still appears running in Activity Monitor on macOS 27. The poster compares this persistent background activity to concerns previously raised about Microsoft's Recall feature, questioning whether Siri and Apple Intelligence services can truly be disabled.
Apple offers built-in tools called Sidecar and Universal Control that let Mac users extend or mirror their desktop onto an iPad, effectively turning the tablet into a second monitor. Both features require the Mac and iPad to be signed into the same iCloud account, with Universal Control also needing two-factor authentication enabled. Windows PC users cannot use these native tools and must rely on third-party alternatives instead.
Apple has updated the Mac mini with its new M6 chip, promising a performance boost over the previous M5 model. The refresh comes with a higher starting price than its predecessor, reflecting the upgraded silicon inside the compact desktop.
Apple has begun shipping the redesigned Mac Studio, keeping its 2022-era chassis but adding M5 Max and M5 Ultra chip options in place of last year's M4 Max and M3 Ultra. The top configuration reviewed—36-core CPU, 80-core GPU, 256GB RAM, 4TB storage—runs $12,299, while entry M5 Max and M5 Ultra models start at $2,499 and $5,499 respectively.